Cubs offense must improve from within

Better production from young core an obvious source but role players have provided power

September 19, 2013|By Mark Gonzales, Chicago Tribune reporter

MILWAUKEE — Work more favorable counts, reach base more frequently and hit more effectively with runners in scoring position.

Those are the major areas of offensive improvement facing the Cubs in 2014, who could encounter a malaise similar to this season unless Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo provide rebound years with a supporting cast filled with youngsters and journeymen.

That landscape appears more likely as President Theo Epstein said Tuesday the Cubs aren't planning to sign multiple impact free agents and will seek improvement through many avenues.

With a retooled roster and an emphasis on building for the future, it's highly unlikely the Cubs would mortgage their future to address the present.

That places more emphasis on rebound seasons from the likes of young talent such as Castro, whose early struggles are one major source of scrutiny regarding the future of manager Dale Sveum.

But for all the speculation regarding Sveum and his coaching staff and the offense, the Cubs fortified their one offensive asset this season — power — as evidenced Thursday when Luis Valbuena, Nate Schierholtz and Brian Bogusevic each hit home runs to support the three-hit pitching of Jake Arrieta in a 5-1 victory over the Brewers that snapped a five-game losing streak and concluded a 4-7 trip.

The Cubs still rank at or near the bottom in the National League in batting average (.237), on-base percentage (.301) and batting average with runners in scoring position (.218).

Castro, who moved to the leadoff spot one month ago, has succeeded lately by reverting to his aggressive manner. But the Cubs still want Castro to become productive and more selective.

"It usually comes in a smaller sample," Sveum said. "In a perfect world, is he going to walk 80 to 100 times? No, but it comes gradually into the 40s when you're playing every day."

The biggest task, regardless of who is managing, will be squeezing every drop of talent out of an offense that has been patched up after trades of slugger Alfonso Soriano and leadoff batter David DeJesus and coped with the struggles of Anthony Rizzo (who collected three hits Thursday), Darwin Barney and Castro.

That struggle appears ominous, although Sveum saw it work as the third base coach for the 2004 Red Sox with a veteran lineup that displayed remarkable plate discipline.

"If you look at all the prolific offenses, they're all 27 to 32 years old," Sveum said. "That's when it all starts. Everyone (uses) the comparisons … you want it right now. The bottom line is those teams have those 27- to 32- to 35-year-old players who have 10,000 professional at-bats."

Meanwhile, Welington Castillo, 26, one of the Cubs' most productive hitters, isn't sure if he'll finish the season after suffering sharp knee pain while running out a ground ball and leaving in the middle of the sixth inning.

Castillo will be examined Friday.

"Sharp pain — that's all I feel," said Castillo, perhaps summing up the Cubs' fortunes.